Apparatus and method for drilling and producing multiple underwater wells

ABSTRACT

Apparatus and method for drilling and producing multiple underwater wells wherein drilling and production template means is remotely lowered and installed at an underwater location. The template means comprises a plate having a plurality of holes therein through which underwater well drilling operations may be carried out. A plurality of guideposts on the template means and guidelines associated therewith are utilized to lower into position the various drilling and production components operatively associated with each of the wells.

PATENTEUunv 9 mm SHEET 1 BF 9 FIG.

INVENTOR:

C. P. PETERMAN BY".

HIS ATTORNEY I United States Patent H 1 3,618,661

[72] Inventor Charles P. Peterman 3,221,506 12/1965 Stratton et al.175/7 X Houston, Tex. 3,366,173 l/l968 McIntosh 166/5 [21] Appl. No.850,463 3,380,520 4/1968 Pease 166/.5 [22] Filed Aug. 15, 1969 3,492,0271/1970 Herring 166/.6 X [45] Patented Nov. 9, 1971 3,504,740 4/1970Manning 166/.5 [73] Assignee Shell Oil Company 3,504,741 4/1970. Bakeret a1 166/.5

New York, N.\'.

[54] APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DRILLING AND PRODUCING MULTIPLE UNDERWATERWELLS 11 Claims, 17 Drawing'l igs.

[52] U.S. Cl 166/.5, 175/7 [51] Int. Cl. E2lb7/l2 [50] Fieldolseareh166/.5, .6;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Primary Examiner-Marvin A.Champion Assistant Examiner-Richard E. Favreau Attorneys-Thomas R. Lampeand J. H. McCarthy ABSTRACT: Apparatus and method for drilling andproducing multiple underwater wells wherein drilling and productiontemplate means is remotely lowered and installed at an underwaterlocation. The template means comprises a plate having a plurality ofholes therein through which underwater well drilling operations may becarried out. A plurality of guideposts on the template means andguidelines associated therewith are utilized to lower into position thevarious drilling and production components operatively associated witheach of the wells.

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INVENTOR C. R PETERMAN HIS ATTORNEY APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DRILLINGAND PRODUCING MULTIPLE UNDERWATER WELLS This invention relates to amethod and equipment concerned with drilling, producing andotheroperations relating to underwater wells and pertains more particularlyto a method and apparatus whereby a plurality of underwater wells may beconveniently and efficiently drilled through a single template means andwherein the same template means may be used as a base whereby modularproduction components may be placed into operative association with thevarious drilled wells.

In an attempt to locate new oil fields, an increasing amount of welldrilling has been conducted at offshore locations, such for example asoff the coast of California, Louisiana and Texas, and, more recently,off the coast of Alaska and in the North Sea. As a general rule, thestring of casing in a well, together with the tubing string or strings,extend to a point above the surface of the water where they are enclosedin a conventional manner that is used in onshore wells, with aconventional wellhead assembly being attached to the top of the casing.Recently, methods and apparatus have been provided for drilling andcompleting the well, wherein both the well and casing head andconsequently the wellhead assembly andcasing closure device are locatedunderwater at a depth sufi'lcient to allow ships to pass over them.

Underwater equipment of this latter type is quite expensive and theinstallation thereof in operative association with the underwater wellis also an expensive and time-consuming matter. Such cost and timeconsiderations become especially important when operations are carriedout in highly developed fields with a number of wells. It is to beunderstood that in these highly developed fields, each of the wells inthe field has associated therewith an underwater wellhead assembly andassociated equipment whereby the well may be produced in the customarymanner. Flow lines run from each of the wells to a suitable productionfacility which may be either onshore, above the surface of the water asby means of a platform or floating vessel, or disposed on the seabeditself. In any event, it may be appreciated that installation andmaintenance of this equipment with respect to each individual well is atime-consuming and expensive proposition. Each well, of course, musthave associated therewith suitable control means for controllingoperation and production of the well, as well as specialized equipmentwhereby workover, maintenance or other operations with respect to thewell may be carried out from a remote location. The incorporation ofthese latter features, of course, also add to the overall expenseinvolved with respect to each well.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore a primary object of the presentinvention to provide an apparatus and method whereby drilling andproduction operations with respect to a plurality of underwater wellsmay be economically carried out in a relatively short period of time.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus andmethod whereby a plurality of underwater wells may be drilled andcompleted from a centralized location, and wherein production equipmentmay be readily brought into operative association with the plurality ofwells at this locatron.

These and other objects have been attained in the present invention byproviding a method and apparatus wherein a template means including abaseplate is lowered into position on the ocean floor and fixed securelythereto. A plurality of apertures are formed in the baseplate throughwhich a multiplicity of wells may be drilled. Guide columns extendupwardly from the baseplate and are disposed in such a manner as topermit drilling and production equipment to be lowered onto thebaseplate and in operative association with the various wells. Theproduction equipment includes a manifolding arrangement adapted toreceive production fluid from each of the wells, from whence the fluidis delivered to suitable flow lines to a desired location. Wellheadcontrol with respect to each individual well may be had through suitablecontrol means which is positionable on the baseplate and placed intooperative engagement with the various wells.

DESCRIPTION OF THE-DRAWING Other objects, purposes and characteristicfeatures of the present invention will be obvious from the accompanyingdrawing and from the following description of the invention. Indescribing the invention in detail, reference will be made to theaccompanying drawing in which like reference numerals designatecorresponding parts throughout several views and in which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view illustrating the template means of thepresent invention being lowered from a floating vessel and prior to itsinstallation on the ocean floor;

FIG. 2 is an isometric partial view illustrating a portion of thetemplate means in cooperation with a tool which is used to affix aguideline to an upstanding guidepost on the template means;

FIG. 3 is an isometric view illustrating a drill pipe and bit beinglowered into position over the template means and prior to the drillingoperation;

FIG. 4 is an isometric view illustrating well casing being lowered intooperative association with one of the apertures of the template means;

FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view of the casing lowering equipment;

FIG. 5 is an isometric view illustrating a casing and wellhead inoperative association with the template means and one of the pluralityof wells;

FIG. 6 is an isometric view illustrating a drilling wellhead assemblybeing lowered into position upon the template means and into operativeassociation with a well casing and wellhead which previously have beeninstalled;

FIG. 7 is a schematic view illustrating a wellhead assembly beinglowered into an alternative position with respect to the template means;

FIG. 8 is an isometric view illustrating the template means according tothe present invention with casing and wellhead means disposed inassociation with all four apertures of the template means baseplate;

FIG. 9 is an isometric view illustrating the installation of a manifoldmeans into cooperative engagement with all four walls associated withthe template means;

FIG. 10 is an isometric view illustrating the manifold means shown inFIG. 9 in operative position on the template means baseplate;

FIG. 11 is an isometric view illustrating the flow line horns inoperative engagement with the manifold means and template means withflow lines running from the flow line horns;

FIG. 12 is an isometric view illustrating the lowering of a productionwellhead assembly along guideline means through the use of a runningframe adapted for this purpose;

FIG. 13 is an isometric view illustrating the running frame shown inFIG. 12 being retrieved from the ocean floor after the productionwellhead assembly has been positioned;

FIG. 14 is an isometric view illustrating all four production wellheadassemblies in position with a control package being lowered thereupon;

FIG. 15 is an exploded isometric view illustrating details of aproduction wellhead assembly; and

FIG. 16 is a diagrammatic isometric view illustrating a detail of thecontrol package.

Referring now to FIG. 1 of the drawing, a vessel or floating platform 11is shown at the surface of a body of water 12 and substantially fixedlypositioned at a preselected location by suitable vessel positioningmeans, or by being anchored to the seabed or ocean floor 13 by suitableanchor means (not shown). Equipment of this type may be used whencarrying on operations with respect to wells positioned from to 3,000feet or more underwater. Vessel II is equipped with a suitable derrick14 as well as other conventional auxiliary equipment such as a hoistsystem (not shown) etc. Derrick 14 is positioned on a platform 15extending out over the side of the vessel 11. Operations are carried outthrough suitable aperture means formed in platform 15. Alternatively,the derrick 14 may be positioned over a drilling slot or well extendingvertically through vessel 11, with the slot in the vessel being eithercentrally located or extending in from one edge thereof. Depending fromderrick 14 on board vessel 11 is the drill string 16 having a drill bit17 and reamer 18 attached to the dependent end of the string. Alsodepending from vessel 11 is a marine conductor 19 which surrounds drillstring 16 throughout the major length thereof. Further depending fromvessel 11 are guidelines 20, 21, and 22 which are connected to constanttension hoists (not shown) on board vessel 11.

Marine conductor 19 is connected as its lowermost end by means of asuitable connector 23 to a template means which is indicated generallyby means of reference numeral 24. Template means 24 includes a baseplate25 having a plurality of apertures 26, 27, 28 and 29, which are formedin the respective four corners of the baseplate which as illustrated hasa square configuration. It should be understood, however, that thebaseplate may have any suitable configuration such as rectangular ortriangular for example. Extending upwardly about the periphery ofbaseplate 25 are a plurality of guidepost elements 30a-30h. A centralthroughbore 31 is formed in the baseplate 25 which accommodates atubular support post 32 with the top portion of the support post beingengaged by connector 23 and the major extent of the support postprojecting downwardly from the bottom of baseplate 25. It is to beunderstood that tubular support post 32 is fixedly secured to baseplate25 by any known expedient, such as by being welded thereto.

In operation, template means 24 is lowered from vessel 11 by means ofmarine conductor [9. During the lowering operation, the template means24 is disposed about drill string 16 with tubular support post 32 alsosurrounding the drill string as illustrated. The lowering operation istemporarily terminated before tubular support post 32 reaches seabed I3with the marine conductor 19 supporting the template means in thisposition. While such position is maintained, drill string 16 is rotatedwith drill bit 17 and reamer 18 forming a foundation pile hole 33 inseabed 13. After foundation pile hole 33 has been drilled to a lengthless than that of the portion of tubular support post 32 extendingdownwardly from baseplate 25, the drilling operation is terminated. Atthat point, template means 24 is lowered by means of marine conductor 19so that tubular support post 32 enters into foundation pile hole 33. Dueto the action of reamer 18, the internal diameter of foundation pilehole 33 is somewhat larger than the external diameter of tubular supportpost 32. Other techniques may of course be used to install the supportpost. For example, such unit may be jetted into position by using ashort drive pipe in the well known manner and then drilling out toaccommodate the main pile or post. After tubular support post 32 hasbeen seated in position within the hole 33 so that a portion of thesupport post remains above seabed 13 (as shown in FIG. 3, for example)cement is pumped from vessel 11 down through drill string 16 so that thecement passes through the bottom of drill bit 17 and flows upwardly intothe annulus formed between tubular support post 32 and foundation pilehole 33. Pumping of the cement continues until it flows out of theannulus above seabed 13, as shown by means of reference numeral 34 inFIG. 3. Connector 23 is then disengaged from tubular support post 32 andthe marine conductor 19 and drill string 16 are retrieved to vessel 11.Upon hardening of the cement, template means 24 is firmly anchored intoposition with baseplate 25 remaining a predetermined, fixed distanceabove the seabed 13, as shown in FIG. 3.

After template means 24 has been cemented into position, a latching tool35 (FIG. 2) is lowered from vessel 11 in the direction of Arrow A alongguidelines 20, 21 and 22. Tool 35 includes a central element 36 defininga throughbore 37. A

plurality of arms 38a-38d are fixedly disposed about the periphery ofcentral element 36 and extend radially outwardly therefrom, as shown inFIG. 2. Arms 38a-38d have fixedly disposed at the respective outer endsthereof tubular guide members 39a-39d. A pair of wires 40 and 41 areutilized to lower tool 35 in the direction of Arrow A with the wires, ofcourse, extending to vessel ill in an obvious manner. During thislowering operation, stability is provided to tool 35 due to the factthat tubular guide members 39a, 39b and 39d surround guidelines 20, 21and 22. Tubular guide member 39:, on the other hand, has disposedtherein by means of any suitable latching arrangement, a guidepost 42which has a guideline 43 extending upwardly from the top thereof tovessel 11, and a connector element 44 disposed at the lower end thereof.Due to the interaction between tubular guide members 39a, 39b and 39d,and guidelines 20, 21 and 22, the connector element 44 is automaticallypositioned over tubular support post 32 during the lowering of tool 35.Lowering of tool 35 continues until connector element 44 is engaged withtubular support post 32 and is latched thereto by means of any suitablemechanism. Tubular guide member 39c is then disengaged from guidepost 42and tool 35 is retrieved to vessel 11 by means of wires 40 and 41, thusleaving the connector element 44, guidepost 42 and guideline 43 inoperative association with template means 24, as shown in FIG. 3. Itshould be noted at this point that a fourth guide line may not benecessary to carry out the teachings of the present invention sincethree guidelines, if properly spaced and tensioned will be adequate inmany cases.

In carrying out the method accordingly to the present invention, thenext step is to lower a drill string 45 and rotary bit 46 in the mannerillustrated in FIG. 3. The drill string and bit are lowered from vessel11 in the usual fashion, i.e., by lengthening the drill string throughthe addition of individual pipe sections. To insure the proper positionof the drill string and rotary bit, tool 35 is lowered along with thestring and bit, with the string positioned within throughbore 37 ofcentral element 36. Tubular guide members 39a39d cooperate withguidelines 20, 21, 22, and 43 to maintain the drill string in thedesired location. As tool 35 reaches the vicinity of guideposts 30b,30c, 30d and 42, the tubular guide members pass over the guideposts andbit 46 enters aperture 26 which is formed in baseplate 25 of thetemplate means. After rotary bit 46 has engaged sea floor 13, the stringand bit are rotated to spud a well in the ocean floor. After a wellholehas been drilled to a desired depth, tool 35, along with drill string 45and rotary bit 46 are withdrawn to vessel 11.

FIG. 4 illustrates the next step in carrying out the method according tothe present invention. Shown being lowered from vessel 11 by means of arunning and cementing pipe string 47 is a length of well casing 48. Wellcasing 48 is positioned within throughbore 37 of the tool 35 centralelement to maintain the casing in a vertical position with the casinglocated above aperture 26 in baseplate 25. The well casing 38 isgradually lowered by means of running string 47 and tool 35 is loweredat a like rate of speed in a manner previously described with respect toa drill string and rotary bit. This lowering operation continues untilthe tubular guide member of tool 35 passes over the respectiveguideposts in the manner previously described and the bull plug 49disposed over the end of casing 48 enters into aperture 26 and thenceinto the well borehole 50 formed in the ocean floor 13 during thepreviously described drilling operation. Final termination of thelowering of casing 48 occurs when an integrally formed hanger element 51about the periphery of casing 48 contacts the portion of baseplate 25immediately surrounding aperture 26. At this point, the major extent ofthe well casing will be suspending within borehole 50 with the remainderof the easing extending upwardly and through aperture 26 to the top ofbaseplate 25. Cement is then pumped from vessel 11 down running andcementing pipestring 47 and thence downwardly through the interior ofcasing 48 into well borehole 50. The cement then flows upwardly into theannulus formed between borehole 50 and casing 48 so that the casing iscemented into position within the borehole in the usual manner. Runningand cementing pipestring 47 is then retrieved to vessel 11. FIG. 4Ashows a detail of the running string 47 and casing 48 in the cooperativerelationship maintained between the two elements during the loweringoperation. A J-slot 52 is formed on the periphery of casing 48 near theupper end thereof. Running and cementing pipestring 47 has an enlargedhead 53 disposed at the lowermost end thereof with said head having aradially outwardly projecting pin member 54 which cooperates with.l-slot 52 in the manner illustrated. When the pin member 54 ispositioned within the terminal portion of L slot 52, support is providedfor casing 48 by string 47 in an obvious manner. After the casing 48 hasbeen suitably positioned with respect to baseplate 25, running andcementing pipestring 47 is depressed and rotated slightly so that pinmember 54 is positioned in the long branch of the J-slot. By thenpulling the running and cementing pipestring 47 in an upwardlydirection, pin 54 and consequently the remainder of the running andcementing pipestring may be freely drawn upwardly and out of engagementwith casing 48. FIG. 5 illustrates the respective positions assumed bythe various elements of the present invention after casing 48 has beencemented into position and tool 35 as well as running and cementingpipestring 47 have been retrieved to vessel 11.

The next step to be performed is the lowering of an underwater drillingwellhead assembly into operative association with casing 48. This stepis illustrated in FIG. 6 wherein a drilling assembly which may be of anysuitable construction is designated generally by means of referencenumeral 55. The drilling assembly includes a wellhead conductor 56, aswell as other conventional drilling assembly components such as blowoutpreventors 57 and 58. Since drilling assembly 55 may be of any suitableconstruction and such equipment is well known in the art, it is notdeemed necessary to describe this piece of equipment in greater detail.However, it is a requirement that suitable guide means be employed toinsure the correct positioning of the drilling assembly. In this regard,drilling assembly 55 is shown as being provided with a plurality of armssuch as arms 59 and 60, which have disposed at the outer ends thereofsuitable guide elements which cooperate with guidelines 20, 21, 22 and42 as well as their respective guideposts so that proper positioning ofdrilling assembly 55 is maintained at all times. It is, of course, to beunderstood that lowering of drilling assembly 55 continues untilwellhead connector 56 latches into engagement with wellhead 59comprising an extension of well casing 48. Supporting drilling assembly55 during the course of its downward movement is a marine conductor pipe60 and a drillpipe 61 which extend upwardly to vessel 11. After thedrilling assembly has been latched into position, drill pipe 6] as wellas the drill bit (not shown) operatively associated therewith, extendsdownwardly into casing 48 so that the well-drilling operation may becompleted.

In FIG. 7 an attempt has been made to illustrate in schematic fashionthe fact that the operations being carried out with respect to a welldisposed under aperture 26 may also be carried out with respect to theother three apertures, i.e., apertures 27, 28 and 29, by merely changingthe guidelines to alternative guideposts on baseplate 25. For example,to carry out operations through aperture 27, the guidelines areconnected to guideposts 30d, 30e, 30f and 42 so that various equipment,such as drilling assembly 55 will be correctly posi tioned to carry outoperations in this alternate location. Guideline switching may beachieved, for example, by moving each line separately using a drill pipeand hydraulic jet technique, or, alternately, a special frame may beutilized to simultaneously release and reset all four guidelines asdesired.

Referring now to FIG. 8, template means 24 is shown with all fouraperture means thereof in operative association with a completed well.Such wells were completed in precisely the same manner as that describedwith respect to the well operatively associated with aperture 26 of thetemplate means. Ac-

cordingly, four wellheads, i.e., wellheads 59, 62, 63 and 64, aredisposed about baseplate 25. In addition, the guidelines utilized duringthe preceding operations have been withdrawn to vessel 11 until they areneeded for further operations.

After the drilling operations have ceased and all four wells operativelyassociated with the template means 24 have been completed, a manifoldmodule, indicated generally by means of reference numeral 65 in FIG. 9,is lowered into position on baseplate 25. Essentially, manifold module65 comprises a plurality of doughnut-shaped members 66, 67, 68 and 69,which are adapted to index around wellheads 59, 62, 63 and 64,respectively. Members 66, 67, 68 and 69 are operatively associated withmanifold piping 70 which is adapted to be connected to flowlines in amanner to be described below through flowline connectors 71, 72, 73 and74. Each of the doughnutshaped members is provided with a plurality ofstabs, such as stabs 75, 76, 77 and 78, illustrated with respect todoughnutshaped member 68, for example. The stabs are in communicationwith the manifold piping 70 so that fluid flow paths are establishedthrough the doughnut-shaped members.

The doughnut-shaped members rest on a running frame comprising arms 79,80 and 81 and a central connector element 82 defining a throughbore 83in such a manner that members 66, 67, 68 and 69 are not restrained fromindexing around each wellhead 59, 62, 63 and 64. The manifold piping 70should be sufficiently flexible to allow members 66, 67 68 and 69 enoughfreedom of movement to accommodate the maximum amount of misalignmentexpected between the wellheads.

Extending through throughbore 83 is a guideline 84 which has previouslybeen secured to a guide post 42 by any known expedient. Manifold module65 is lowered along guide line 84 from vessel 11 by means of a runningstring 85 which is releasably secured in any known manner to centralconnector element 82. It will be appreciated that when a singleguideline such as guideline 84 is used to guide the manifold module intoposition, that the manifold module will be free to rotate around.Accordingly, it is desirable to have an auxiliary means to assist in theproper placement of the manifold module upon baseplate 25.

FIG. 9 illustrates one arrangement which may be used for the purpose ofassisting a proper placement of manifold module 65. In that figure, atelevision camera 86 is shown as being pivotally mounted upon a runningframe 87 which is lowerable along guidelines 88 and 89 which havepreviously been secured to guideposts 30a and 30d. The TV camera isoperatively associated with a conduit or cable 90 which extends upwardlythrough vessel 11 and is used to control the lowering of the runningframe 87 as well as to monitor the placement of manifold module 65. Ofcourse, numerous other expedients may be utilized to insure the properplacement of the manifold module with respect to the remainder of theequipment. For example, the manifold module may have extending therefromguide elements which would cooperate with a plurality of guidelines toprevent rotational movement of the manifold module. The lowering of themanifold module continues until this piece of equipment is in theposition illustrated in FIG. 10 with the doughnut-shaped members 66, 67,68 and 69 disposed about the wellheads 59, 62, 63 and 64. It is, ofcourse, to be understood that the running string 85 has been previouslydisconnected from central connector element 82 and removed to vessel 11.

In FIG. 11 a plurality of conventional flow line horns 92, 94, and 96are shown as being in position upon baseplate 25 and disposed at theends of flow line connectors 71, 72, 73 and 74. It will be assumed thatflow line horns 93, 94, 95 and 96 have been previously lowered intoposition upon baseplate 25 through the use of any conventional runningtechnique, so that the flow line horns are mounted upon mountingelements 97, 98, 99 and I00 which are integrally attached to baseplate25 as shown in FIG. 10, for example. The flow line horns are shown ashaving attached thereto and in operative association with flow lineconnectors 71, 72, 73 and 74 a plurality of flow lines 110, 1111, 112and 1113 with the flow lines terminating at their respective outer ends(not shown) at the suitable production facility located either onshoreor ofl'shore with said offshore facility being either above or below thewater. Since flow line connecting methods are well known in the art, itis not deemed necessary to discuss such procedure in great detail. Onefeasible approach for accomplishing this may be to utilize the pull tubemethod to connect the lines. In this method, the flow lines are pulledand locked into place in the flow line horns by means of a cable orother similar means. The flaring outer portion of the horns assist inguiding the flow lines into position. The pull tube" approach isdisclosed more fully in U.S. Pat. No. 3,358,753, issued Dec. 19, 1967 to.l. A. I-Iaeber, and reference may be made to that patent for moredetails concerning methods and apparatus of this type.

The next step to be carried out according to the teachings of thepresent invention is the placement of production wellhead assembliesinto operative association with the previously installed equipment withone underwater production assembly being disposed on each of thedoughnut-shaped members. In FIG. 12, one such production wellheadassembly 114 is shown as being lowered into position in the direction ofArrow B, by means of a wellhead assembly running frame 115. The wellheadassembly or production control unit 114 is adapted to be placed intofluid communication with the production tubing associated with eachwell, and comprises the necessary piping, valves, chokes, and otherequipment normally connected together and mounted on the top of a well,and known as a Christmas tree" together with the necessary hydraulic orelectrical system, including pumps, reservoirs, motors, etc. to operatethe valves at the head of the well from a remote location. The wellheadassembly further includes means (not shown) for receiving the stabs ofthe cooperating doughnutshaped member, so that fluid flow may beestablished between the wellhead assembly and manifold 70. Wellheadassemblies are generally well known in the prior art and a typicalexample of an underwater production control unit or wellhead assemblyfor use at an offshore location, and its manner of operation, is shownand described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,064,735, issued Nov. 20, 1962 to R. J.Bauer et al. Wellhead assembly 114 is held within running frame 115 byany suitable latch means during the lowering operation. The runningframe itself includes upper and lower cylindrically shaped housingelements 116 and 117 which are adapted to accommodate the productionwellhead assembly in the manner illustrated. The housing elements areframe-connected so that they are in alignment, thus insuring the properpositioning of wellhead assembly 114 therein. Secured to housingelements 116 and 117 in any desired manner are elongated running tubes118, 119, 120 and 121, which cooperate with guidelines 122, 123, 124 and125 to insure the desired positioning of the wellhead assem bly 114 andrunning frame 115 during the lowering operation. Guidelines 122, 123,I24 and 125, of course, extend downwardly to four selected guideposts onthe template means baseplate 25 and upwardly to vessel 11. Theguidelines are secured to the guidepost means through use ofconventional guideline attaching equipment. After the productionwellhead assembly 114 has been lowered into position with respect to thepreviously installed equipment, wellhead assembly running frame 115 isretrieved back to vessel 11 along the guidelines in the direction ofArrow C in FIG. 13. The above-described lowering and retrievingoperations with respect to the wellhead assembly and the running frameare effected through the use of a running string 126 which is secured towellhead assembly running frame 115 by any desired connector means 127.

As previously stated, one production wellhead assembly is to beassociated with each of the wells drilled into the ocean floor throughthe template means 24. In FIG. 14 it will be assumed that four suchwells have been drilled and that four production wellhead assemblies,i.e. assemblies 114, 128, 129, and 130 have been placed into position bymeans of running frame 115. It should be noted that the weight of eachwellhead assembly is supported by its own well casing or pile member.Accordingly, the baseplate 25 is not subjected to any undue strain uponthe positioning of the production wellhead assemblies thereon.

As shown in FIG. 15, each production wellhead assembly may be comprisedof a plurality of sections which will facilitate the repair of eachwellhead assembly in the event of operational failure thereof. Forexample, the illustrated production wellhead assembly may include aprocess valve manifold 140, a control package contains pilot operatedhydraulic valves 141, and a connector cap 142. These various componentsare connected together in an operative manner by means of suitablehydraulic or electrical stabs or connectors, such as connectors 143,144, and 145. The valve manifold portions of the wellhead assembliesincorporate suitable receptacles (not shown) which cooperate with thehydraulic or electrical stabs, such as stabs 75, 76, 77 and 78operatively associated with doughnut-shaped member 68 (FIG. 9).

After the wellhead assemblies have been placed in position in the mannerpreviously described, a four-well control pod 151 (FIG. 14) is loweredfrom vessel 11 into engagement with the connector cap elements of thewellhead assemblies. The four-well control pod includes an extendibleand retractable control pod support 152, which is adapted to be placedover the center guidepost of template means 24, and contains supervisorycontrols and central hydraulic power supply for the control packages.Extending outwardly from the central body portion of control pod 151 area plurality of arms 153, 154, 155 and 156. Disposed on the outer ends ofthe arms are cupshaped contact members 157, 158, 159 and 160 which areadapted to be placed over the connector caps of the production wellheadassemblies. The cup-shaped contact members have disposed about theperipheries thereof contact receptacles for the stab connectors of theconnector caps. Hydraulic or electrical leads (not shown) run from thecontact members through the central portion of the four-well control podand thence to a control conduit 161 which extends to vessel 11 oranother suitable control point. In this manner, the operation of theproduction wellhead assemblies may be monitored and controlled from anydesired remote location.

While in FIG. 14 the cup-shaped contact members are illustrated as beingrigidly attached to the remainder of the control pod by means of arms,it may be desirable to provide some degree of movement between thecup-shaped contact members and the remainder of the control pod toaccommodate for any misalignment between the cup-shaped contact membersand the production wellhead assemblies. In FIG. 16, for example, acup-shaped contact member 162 is illustrated as being axially movablewith respect to a mounting ring 163 which is fixedly attached to aretractable and extendible arm 164. Such movement may be effected bymeans of suitable hydraulic actuators (not shown) or by any othersuitable means such as an electric motor arrangement or a simple slidearrangement which will permit the cup-shaped contact members to slide inor out and rotate as they functionally engage the associated connectorcaps thereby providing proper positioning. In addition, arm 164 may berotatably mounted within mounting conduit 165 so that the arm may berotated relative thereto, as desired. Therefore, with respect to centralportion 166 of the control pod, the cup-shaped contact member 162 hasthree degrees of motion, as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 16.

I claim as my invention:

1. A method of drilling and producing multiple underwater wells from avessel floating on a body of water, said method comprising the steps of:

lowering template means, including multiple aperturedefining means, fromthe vessel into said body of water; installing said template means byfirst drilling a foundation pile hole into the earth underlying saidbody of water and then positioning a portion of said template meanswithin said pile hole, and cementing said template means portion in saidpile hole with said multiple aperture-defining means positioned abovethe earth underlying said body of water;

establishing guideline means between said vessel and said template meansbefore lowering the drill string and bit from said vessel and whereinsaid guideline means and said drill string and bit cooperate to positionsaid drill string and bit with respect to each of said apertures, saidguideline means being repositioned with respect to said template meansto facilitate the drilling of said well bores; lowering a drill stringand bit from said vessel;

drilling through each of said multiple apertures with said drill stringand bit so that a plurality of underwater well bores are drilled; and

lowering production equipment from said vessel into operativeassociation with said plurality of well bores.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of lowering productionequipment into operative association with said plurality of well borescomprises separately lowering production equipment modular elementsalong guideline means with said modular elements being positioned onsaid template means.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein said guideline means isrepositioned with respect to said template means to facilitate thedrilling of said well bores.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein surface casing is installedfor each of said plurality of underwater wells prior to the completionof drilling with respect to said wells, said casing extending from saidtemplate means into each of said well bores.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said surface casing serves to at leastpartially support said production equipment when said equipment is inoperative association with said well bores.

6. An apparatus for facilitating the drilling of wells and productiontherefrom under a body of water, said apparatus comprising:

template means adapted for installation below said body of water, saidtemplate means including base plate means having a plurality ofapertures formed therein;

a columnlike support means extending from said baseplate means andadapted to be secured in the earth to support said base plate above saidearth, said support means is located at the center of said baseplate andsaid apertures are located equal distances from said support means; and

guideline attachment means on said template, guidelines extending fromsaid guideline attachment means to a vessel floating on the surfacewhereby drilling and production equipment may be lowered onto saidbaseplate.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, and in addition a drilling assembly adaptedto be lowered on said guidelines, said drilling assembly having aplurality of arms, one said arm engaging said support means to spacesaid drilling assembly so that wells may be drilled through saidapertures.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, and in addition a plurality of wellcasings, one of said well casings being inserted in each of saidapertures and cemented in the earth before the first well is drilled.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, and in addition a production manifoldmodule including a plurality of manifold means for producing wellsdrilled through each of said apertures, said manifold module alsoincluding means for engaging said support means to align the module withthe previously drilled wells in said apertures.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said manifold module includes meansto pull flow lines down to said module and connect them to productionlines on said module.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, and in addition a plurality of productionwellhead assemblies, one of said assemblies being installed on eachmanifold on said module.

1. A method of drilling and producing multiple underwater wells from avessel floating on a body of water, said method comprising the steps of:lowering template means, including multiple aperture-defining means,from the vessel into said body of water; installing said template meansby first drilling a foundation pile hole into the earth underlying saidbody of water and then positioning a portion of said template meanswithin said pile hole, and cementing said template means portion in saidpile hole with said multiple aperture-defining means positioned abovethe earth underlying said body of water; establishing guideline meansbetween said vessel and said template means before lowering the drillstring and bit from said vessel and wherein said guideline means andsaid drill string and bit cooperate to position said drill string andbit with respect to each of said apertures, said guideline means beingrepositioned with respect to said template means to facilitate thedrilling of said well bores; lowering a drill string and bit from saidvessel; drilling through each of said multiple apertures with said drillstring and bit so that a plurality of underwater well bores are drilled;and lowering production equipment from said vessel into operativeassociation with said plurality of well bores.
 2. The method of claim 1wherein the step of lowering production equipment into operativeassociation with said plurality of well bores comprises separAtelylowering production equipment modular elements along guideline meanswith said modular elements being positioned on said template means. 3.The method according to claim 1 wherein said guideline means isrepositioned with respect to said template means to facilitate thedrilling of said well bores.
 4. The method according to claim 1 whereinsurface casing is installed for each of said plurality of underwaterwells prior to the completion of drilling with respect to said wells,said casing extending from said template means into each of said wellbores.
 5. The method of claim 4 wherein said surface casing serves to atleast partially support said production equipment when said equipment isin operative association with said well bores.
 6. An apparatus forfacilitating the drilling of wells and production therefrom under a bodyof water, said apparatus comprising: template means adapted forinstallation below said body of water, said template means includingbase plate means having a plurality of apertures formed therein; acolumnlike support means extending from said base plate means andadapted to be secured in the earth to support said base plate above saidearth, said support means is located at the center of said baseplate andsaid apertures are located equal distances from said support means; andguideline attachment means on said template, guidelines extending fromsaid guideline attachment means to a vessel floating on the surfacewhereby drilling and production equipment may be lowered onto saidbaseplate.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6, and in addition a drillingassembly adapted to be lowered on said guidelines, said drillingassembly having a plurality of arms, one said arm engaging said supportmeans to space said drilling assembly so that wells may be drilledthrough said apertures.
 8. The apparatus of claim 6, and in addition aplurality of well casings, one of said well casings being inserted ineach of said apertures and cemented in the earth before the first wellis drilled.
 9. The apparatus of claim 6, and in addition a productionmanifold module including a plurality of manifold means for producingwells drilled through each of said apertures, said manifold module alsoincluding means for engaging said support means to align the module withthe previously drilled wells in said apertures.
 10. The apparatus ofclaim 9 wherein said manifold module includes means to pull flow linesdown to said module and connect them to production lines on said module.11. The apparatus of claim 9, and in addition a plurality of productionwellhead assemblies, one of said assemblies being installed on eachmanifold on said module.